Celtic's Police Warning Ahead of Derby Against Rangers

Martin O’Neill has revealed Celtic were given a “general behaviour” warning by Police Scotland ahead of Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Rangers at Ibrox – a Glasgow derby that will be played without a single away supporter in the ground.

No Celtic fans will be inside the 50,000-capacity stadium after the authorities stepped in amid the ongoing ticket allocation row between the clubs. The fallout stretches back to the last Old Firm meeting in Govan in March, when Celtic won a bad-tempered Scottish Gas Scottish Cup quarter-final on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes and disorder in the stands.

Both clubs have since been ordered to play their next home Scottish Cup ties behind closed doors. On top of that, each has been hit with a £100,000 compensation bill, to be paid to whichever side is drawn away in their next fixture in that competition.

Police reminder before a fan-less derby

For O’Neill, the build-up has been unlike any Old Firm week he has known.

“It’ll be a bit strange not having the (Celtic) fans in,” the 74-year-old admitted, before quickly switching back to the football. He described himself as “nervously and excitedly” looking forward to a fixture he still calls “great”.

The police visit to Lennoxtown added a different edge.

“We had the police come in today, just a little 15 minute meeting with us, just reminders of our behaviour, which I think is actually a timely reminder. It a good thing as well,” O’Neill said.

“I think it’s the overall picture. Gosh, it’d be nice to have something to celebrate. I think it’s just general behaviour from us.

“They didn’t mention this but I would have assumed that one of the things that they considered is what happens on the field of play, because these things can be taken further.

“You don’t want any sort of punch-ups for a start; secondly, you don’t want too excessive celebrations, stuff like that, if that was the case.

“I mean, I’d be delighted to be celebrating something in the game. But it’s the behaviour in the light of what has happened in recent fixtures.”

The message was clear: in a derby already stripped of its away support, the players’ conduct will be under the microscope.

Selection calls and a goalkeeping dilemma

O’Neill will at least have one fitness boost. He confirmed midfielder Mika Baur is expected to train on Saturday after missing Friday’s session with a knock, putting him in contention for Ibrox.

The bigger call comes in goal.

Late summer signing Sam Johnstone, on loan from EFL Championship side Wolves, made his Celtic debut in Wednesday night’s 1-0 William Hill Premiership win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park. That outing has thrown open the question of who starts in Govan: Johnstone, the experienced England international, or Viljami Sinisalo, who began the season as number one and has impressed.

O’Neill is keeping that decision close.

“I haven’t made my mind up at all. It was a matter of getting a look at what Sam can do,” he said.

“It’s great to have the two of them. Big Viljami has done exceptionally well for us and it was just, again, an opportunity to see what Sam can do now.

“What he could do a couple of years ago was fantastic, what he can do now might be a totally different picture. I will let them know first.”

A silent away end, a police warning still ringing in their ears, and a major call between the posts – Celtic walk into Ibrox knowing this Old Firm will be judged on far more than just the scoreline.